Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-10-22
GEN. GRANTS HOME LIFE.
A Pleasant Picture of the Inner Charac
ter aud Life Of the Great Chieftain.

80 h'h hhhfh NsI
out fresh linens, adjusted his set of dia-
mond or gold studs just as ,ancy struck
me. polished his shoes, poured out
water for his toilet and awaited for fur
| ther orders. The general left the selec-
ton Of suit for the day entirely to my
own taste.
Mrs. Grant only was fastidious in
dress. There could hardly he found a
finer wardrobe in the land than She had.
Her wearing apparel was simply superb.
The generals wardrobe was very COM
Iiete also, but he never knew what clothes
lie had, for his tastes were plain IN
every respect. The materials were OF the
very best, but nothing fancy. He wore
mostly dark clothes, always button shoes,
a standup collar turned back and never
any other than a black tie. He never in
dictated to me the kind Of suit he would
wear. | simply selected from a large
variety according to my own judgment,
and he O them" Mr.. Chambliss
went on further to say: THE very first
thing | would do in the morning was the
taking Of the morning papers to the
boudoir, where / placed them OF the
table. They generally were The Times,
Herald, World and Tribune, but he got
papers from all the principal cities of the
country at mail time.
Il would next enter his bed chamber
and often would find him lying in bed
smoking a cigar. He had a chair by his
bed where he deposited the ashes. |
greeted him with good morning, and he
would return it with a kindly expression
Of face. but seldom would say more than
now and then ask about the weather. If
] We're TO ask him a question or two he
would answer them. that's ali. His words
were few: he seldom commanded. but
one could know by his one or two words
what was meant, and you always were
inclined To carry out his wishes. | always
had to put on and button his shoes, hold
his coat. but he adjusted the collar and
tie himself He took a bath twice a
week. | knew the time and always had
the water turned on for him.
The general. he continued, always
went from his bed chamber straight to
the boudoir. He went there with a
cigar in his mouth. He scanned the
papers hastily and smoked at least three
cigars before breakfast call. He went
down TO breakfast with cigars in his
pocket. and if he should happen TO have
forgotten the placing Of any there, he
would at once ask the butler to bring
him some. With scarcely the last NOR
sci swallowed, the butler would be ready
with liz match and the general would
smoke. He mt the same time handed
cigars over the table TO his sons who
would join him in this delicious des-
sert."
What kind of cigars did the general
use:''
Well. Ionce heard him tell Mrs. Grant
that his cigars cost thirty-nine cents each
by the thousand. He smoked a very long
and large cigar, specially made to order.
In fact his cigar would put any ordinary
sample in the shade as regards size. He
generally had two dozen boxes on hand,
and two brands of them. He always
favored the large cigar. The valet could
always gain the consideration Of being an
alert servant if he would notify him of
the near exhaustion Of his stock. Gen
eral. only one box Of cigars on hand!
We'll. ! will have some sent up, was his
inyariable answer, and he never failed.
After breakfast the general would
often walk TO the elevated station, Fifty
ninth street. in Sixth ayenuc. and go
down to his Office in Wall street, The
carriage often stood ready by the front
door. but he frequently preferred walk
ing. He took downtown lunch at |
O'Clock. and came home TO dinner. which
was served at @ p m. In the afternoon,
on his return from the Office and before
he entered the house. lie went to the
stables. ordered his favorite horse and
took a drive in the park. Upon entering
the house his first order was: Get me the
evening paper Mrs. Grant never failed
% greet him at the head Of tho stairs
most ahectionately. She called hin
Ulysses he called her Mrs. Grant.
She always kissed him upon his departure
from the house and upon his return to it.
In speaking of the table habits of thu
general and his family the valet, with {
years experience as butler. went on e
say: They set a very fine table indeed,
They had the finest Of tableware thai
could he found. II was always Mrs,
Grants greatest desire to have good and
long dinners For this meal the eatable'
were all served in courses. The cook and
butler had each a list, and whenever the
butler would lower the dummy 10 tn,
kitchen the cook would know the cours'
next in order. The dinner consumed ont
hour and a half in its completion.
THE general was not a great eater
For breakfast he cared mostly fer tender
loin Of porterhouse steak, cup Of coffe'
and hot griddle cakes always served will
the meal-and the inevitable cigar
Breakfast consumed one-half hour. HI
would pull out his watch at the close, bu
never was in a hurry.
"fhe family were certainly most affec
= Tomato. When they were met togethe
they were the happiest people in tn
world. Mrs. Grant and the general wer,
ever addressing each other with terms o
greatest respect and tenderness. and FIRE
} quently had studied surprises for eacl
others happiness. / think Mrs. Gran
wa conscious Of the generals greatness
and she had a right to appreciate it. Blu
the general always was plain. lie neve
seemed TO know that lie had done any
} thing in the world-but somewhere, an,
-.g-. A.. LII - -.